OAKLAND, Calif. Head-Royce forced 11 turnovers and scored 10 points off them as the Jayhawks beat Head-Royce JV 26-8 on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, to improve to 2-0 on the 2023-24 season.
The Jayhawks took control from the start with a 10-0 run to open the game. A basket opened the scoring, and three of the four field goals in that stretch came off turnovers. Head-Royce also made a pair of free throws during the run, which ended with back-to-back baskets off takeaways for a 10-0 lead.
Head-Royce JV answered with consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 10-4, but that was as close as it got. The Jayhawks responded with a 12-0 run that decided the game. A basket and two free throws pushed the lead to 14-4, and Head-Royce then scored twice in a row off turnovers before adding two more baskets to go ahead 22-4. The game had no ties and no lead changes, and Head-Royce JV never led.
Head-Royce JV ended the run with a basket to make it 22-6. The Jayhawks followed with a basket and two more free throws to build their largest lead at 26-6. Head-Royce JV scored the final basket of the game to set the 26-8 final.
Individual statistics were not recorded for the game, and the scorer kept team totals only. Head-Royce made 10 of 21 shots from the field (48 percent) for 20 points and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line, making three pairs of free throws. The Jayhawks did all their scoring inside the arc, going 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and their bench did not score.
The defense decided the game. Head-Royce JV made just 4 of 16 shots from the field (25 percent), went 0-for-3 from beyond the arc and missed both of its free throw attempts. The Jayhawks had six steals and one block, and they turned the ball over only twice while forcing 11 turnovers. Head-Royce also won the rebounding battle 11-9, grabbing one offensive rebound, and neither team scored a second-chance point. The Jayhawks had three assists and committed seven fouls, while Head-Royce JV had one assist and five fouls.
With the win, Head-Royce moved to 2-0 and extended its winning streak to two games. The Jayhawks return to action when they host Bentley JV on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.